In a move to douse discontent among the Congress MLAs and ensure unity in the party ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections next year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday held marathon meetings with MLAs and district in-charge Ministers of six districts and assured them of releasing funds for development works in a phased manner in the coming days.
MLAs of several constituencies of six districts - Tumakuru, Yadgir, Chitradurga, Bagalkot, Ballari, and Dharwad - sought funds for completion of ongoing projects and taking up new works promised to the electorate during the Assembly elections.
A few MLAs who attended the meeting told The Hindu that the Chief Minister was very receptive to the demand for grants sought by legislators for executing development works in their constituencies. But at the same time, he expressed financial constraints faced by the government in releasing funds for development work in constituencies of MLAs.
The MLAs sought funds for completion of incomplete projects launched during the previous BJP government such as roads and bridges of Public Works Department and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, anganwadi, school and college buildings, community halls, drainage works, drinking water projects, construction of new health centers, police stations, markets, and houses for beneficiaries.
Kunigal MLA H.D. Ranganth said that “Mr. Siddaramaiah has mentioned financial constraints faced by the government following implementation of five guarantees and assured release of funds in a phased manner”.
“We brought issues at the constituency level to the Chief Minister’s attention. Mr. Shivakumar, who is also KPCC president, has already given a message to the MLAs”, he said.
Both Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar called Congress MLAs district-wise and listened to their grievances.
Another MLA said the issue related to transfer of officials was not discussed and talks were largely confined to delay in the release of grants for undertaking rural and urban development projects in constituencies.
Mr. Siddaramaiah told district in-charge Ministers to not interfere in constituencies of MLAs and work in tandem with legislators, sources said.
As the government is estimated to spend close to ₹50,000 crore in the current fiscal year in implementing five guarantees, the Chief Minister, who is also holding the finance portfolio, referred to difficulties in releasing funds for big-ticket projects, a MLA from Chitradurga district said.
